Full Breakdown
Tamil Actor Vikram’s Lar-Gibbon Video Triggers Wildlife Investigation
8/13/2026, 8:59:29 PM
Core Event
A video posted on Instagram by Tamil-film star Chiyaan Vikram showed him cuddling a lar gibbon, an endangered ape listed under IUCN and CITES Appendix I. The clip was removed within hours, prompting the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to open a probe into how the animal arrived at a private residence in Injambakkam, Chennai, and whether statutory requirements for its possession and transfer were satisfied.
Background & Context
Lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) are native to Southeast Asian forests and are not indigenous to India. Their international trade requires CITES permits, DGFT documentation and permission from the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden. Under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, non-native endangered species are Schedule IV, making unauthorized private ownership a cognizable offense.
Timeline
| Date (occurred) | Event |
|---|---|
| June 5 | One male and two female lar gibbons were transferred from Manipur to a person in Perundurai, Erode district, according to Forest Department records. |
| August 5 | One male and one female gibbon were moved from Perundurai to a relative of Vikram in Chennai. |
| August 11 | The Instagram video was reported and the department announced an inquiry. |
| August 13 | A notice was served on Vikram, demanding appearance and submission of purchase and possession documents within three days. |
Data & Statistics
- Declared stock in Manipur (2020): Eight lar gibbons (four males, four females) recorded on the PARIVESH portal, with Malaysia as the country of origin.
- Transfer to Erode: Three gibbons (one male, two females) documented as moving to S.K. Keshavanathan in Perundurai for “adoption.”
- Current findings: Officials located two live gibbons (one male, one female) at businessman C.K. Ranganathan’s premises; a third gibbon was reported dead, with age and cause unverified.
Official Statements & Responses
- Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Tamil Nadu): Individuals may keep a lar gibbon only with required permits; the department is investigating provenance.
- Yogesh Kulal, Wildlife Warden (Chennai): Confirmed relocation of the gibbon from Ranganathan’s Injambakkam residence to Erode and said officials will verify documentation of the dead animal.
- Forest Department notice (August 13): Demanded Vikram’s personal appearance and all records related to purchase, ownership and transport, warning of legal action for non-compliance.
Criticism & Opposition
- Antony Clement Rubin, wildlife-and-animal-welfare activist: Warned that keeping primates as pets raises zoonotic disease risk.
- Shravan Krishnan, Tamil Nadu State Board for Wildlife member: Criticized the focus on the gibbon’s “cute” appearance, noting it can obscure illegal wildlife-trade networks.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Ownership ambiguity: Sources differ on whether the gibbon was owned by Vikram, his relative, or businessman C.K. Ranganathan, founder-chairman of CavinKare and father-in-law of Vikram’s daughter. No transfer certificate confirming Chief Wildlife Warden permission has been produced.
- Death of the third gibbon: Officials have not confirmed when or how the animal died.
- Documentation status: The PARIVESH portal shows a 2020 declaration of eight gibbons in Manipur, but the Forest Department has yet to locate the required CITES, DGFT and state permits for subsequent moves.
What’s Next
The Forest Department will review any documents submitted by Vikram and decide whether further enforcement—such as seizure or prosecution under the Wildlife Protection Act—is warranted. The outcome will influence public debate about exotic-pet ownership by high-profile individuals in India.
